SU grad student killed in Syria

A Syracuse University student was killed in Syria by armed forces Monday while working as a citizen journalist.

Syrian native Bassel Shahade moved to Homs three months ago to film what was happening in the Syrian revolution. He was killed Monday. According to a Facebook page made in his memory, he was killed by members of the Syrian regime while covering the uprising.

The Facebook page says Shahade trained people while in Syria, teaching film-making and photo-editing classes.

Syracuse University Chancellor Nancy Cantor announced his death in an email to the Syracuse community.

“This is a terrible tragedy for Bassel’s family and friends in Syria and for all his fellow students, faculty and friends here in Syracuse who knew him,” Cantor said in the email.